Are We As Consumers Being Conned?

[dollie65]

I saw a microwave I liked on the Swan website with a 2 yr guarantee so I googled to find the same microwave cheaper elsewhere. I eventually bought exactly the same microwave from Very. There was no mention on the website of how long the guarantee was so for verification I rung Very and was told like all their electrical products it was for a year. I then went to register said microwave on the Swan website and it wouldnt accept it so I rung Swan and gave them the details ie; product number ( which was not a Swan product number but a Very) they said as Swan have given the licence to Very to sell their products they can put what ever guarantee they like on said microwave!! and Swan themselves will not accept my registration as I didnt buy the microwave direct from them.

[dannyk13]

It shouldn't matter where the item was bought, it is Swan who manufactured it and should guarantee it,I have bought items from Amazon and registered the guarantee with the manufacturers without any problem,I would contact Trading Standards,

[Old_Geezer]

Should've put this in law. You have legal rights regardless of guarantees given. For the moment I don't recall when the retailer and when the manufacturer are responsible, but you get cover regardless.

[bhg481]

Your contract is with the company you bought it from ie, they are responsible for any repairs/returns etc.

[dannyk13]

bhg, Every purchase of electrical goods etc from Amazon has included a guarantee from the manufacturer.

[pixie374]

Yes, danny- but it is the seller who is responsible, as bhg says.

[dannyk13]

PIxie, are you saying tthat if you buy an item from a high street store that the store is responsible for any defects in manufacture?

[sunny-dave]

Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act are against the retailer – the company that sold you the product – not the manufacturer, so you must take any claim to the retailer.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

[gingejbee]

danny....you really do need to brush-up your consumer rights!

[pixie374]

Yes Danny- they can take it up with the manufacturer themselves, but your contact is with them.

[pixie374]

"Contract"...

[bhg481]

It follows, of course, that the retailer has a claim against the wholesaler (from whom he bought the goods) etc, so the buck doesn't really stop with the retailer; just as far as your claim is concerned.

[dannyk13]

The point I am trying to make is that if Swan guarantee one of their products it does not matter where that product is purchased, the guarantee should still be honoured.

[hc4361]

A seller can give any guarantee they like, many give better and longer guarantees than the manufacturer. If Swan want to give their direct customers two years guarantee that is up to them. The guarantee does not affect your statutory rights under consumer laws but are additional.
You knew that you were getting a one year guarantee before you bought it and that's what you got.
You saved money buying from Very - it was your choice

[dollie65]

hc, no I didnt know I was only getting a one year guarantee until after my purchase as there was no mention of the guarantee on the Very website that why I rung Very!

[Tilly2]

It'll last you longer than two years. Don't worry about it.

[Old_Geezer]

Well maybe. The failure graph is bathtub shaped. A relatively high number fail quickly and need replacing, then few go wrong for a long period, then the number starts to soar again. The trick is to identify the old age failure start so one can offer the longest guarantee without additional financial loss.

[hc4361]

If the microwave is still within the return period you could return it and buy it direct from Swan if the two year guarantee is so important to you.